TV Reviews : A Few Moments of Joy for ‘From the Heart’ Stars

Those few viewers who have the patience to wade through the sheen of Academy Award gloss and canned speeches of “From the Heart,” airing Sunday at 8 p.m. on Channels 4, 36 and 39, will be rewarded with some moments of pure, uplifting joy.

Unfortunately, the producers of “From the Heart” don’t make it easy, giving short shrift to the real stars of the show, the disabled artists whose truely formidable accomplishments are being celebrated.

A TV special taped during a weeklong salute to the organization Very Special Arts, “From the Heart” is overloaded with celebrities--ranging from Lauren Bacall to Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.)--introducing different artists and film clips. Few of the introductions ring true.

Most of the artists’ performances are jarringly intercut with clips that severely undermine the impact of their moments. One example: Dancer Zina Bethune performs with her wheelchair-bound counterpart, Sarah Anderson, while Amanda McBroom sings “The Rose” in the background . . . in between clips explaining the dance project where Anderson developed her talent. A very touching moment becomes almost irritating.

Michael Douglas is one of the few celebs who adds to his segment. Douglas introduces playwright Neil Marcus and reads from one of Marcus’ works in between scenes performed by Marcus, who is plagued by the crippling disease dystonia, and two actors. Douglas’ reading is very effective; the performances are enhanced by it.

“ ‘From the Heart’ is not about disabled individuals,” says Very Special Arts founder Jean Kennedy Smith. “It is about talented people.” It’s too bad that the producers didn’t have the courage to let these individuals showcase their hard-won skills.